Heather O’Rourke became a massive star at a very young age. Starring in the famous horror movie Poltergeist, Heather was on her way to having a remarkable career. Unfortunately, however, she passed away at the young age of 12.
The circumstances surrounding O’Rourke’s passing were very mysterious and still are today. Many believe the film is surrounded by the “Hollywood curse,” as several other actors also passed away.
So what happened to Heather O’Rourke? And what was her short life like? Here’s all you need to know about her.
Heather O’Rourke’s life became a colossal tragedy. The little girl became a star already as a young child – but at age 12, she passed away surrounded by extraordinary circumstances.
Heather Michele O’Rourke was born on December 27, 1975, in Santee, San Diego, California. Her mother, Kathleen, was a seamstress, and her father, Michael O’Rourke, worked as a construction worker.
There are many unique stories in Hollywood regarding actors and actresses being discovered. Some became famous after years of doing commercials or modeling work. Others went through various drama and acting schools and went to Hollywood later in life. But some just were very lucky, just like the legendary Michael Landon, who was discovered while working at a gas station.
For Heather O’Rourke, it was something quite similar. However, she was very much younger. But even though it was a unique story, it was a classic one all the same.
Her older sister, Tammy, had gotten a role as a dancer in the film Pennies From Heaven. While waiting for Tammy, Heather and her mother were eating lunch at the MGM Commissary – and it changed her life forever.
At that time, Steven Spielberg was about to make a new upcoming horror film. The movie was named Poltergeist, and he was looking for a four-year-old actress to star in it.
Some might believe in fate, and others don’t. But this time, it was a coincidence too good to be true.
Spielberg saw Heather O’Rourke, waiting for her mother, and he thought he might just have found his star. She was asked into his office, but at first, she told him that she wasn’t supposed to talk to strangers. However, her mother soon arrived – and Heather was tested in her acting abilities.
“I went to his office, and he wanted me to be afraid of this pink fish, and this purple pig and all that, and I thought it was hilarious, and I left,” Heather O’Rourke recalled of the first meeting with Steven Spielberg. “And he told me to come back the next day.”
When Heather and her mother went back for the second day of the casting, they saw all kinds of posters in Spielberg’s hallway to the office. At that point, they understood that he was a famous director and producer.
Spielberg had seen something in her, and during the second day, Heather brought a scary storybook with her. He asked her to scream a lot – and actually, Heather screamed until she broke down in tears.
The next day at the studio, Spielberg told Heather O’Rourke that he just couldn’t let her not get the role.
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